Deadlines for storm assistance are near

Deadlines for different types of assistance from damage caused by the remnants of hurricanes Frances and Ivan are quickly approaching, although a couple were recently extended.

The deadline for Alleghany residents seeking unemployment assistance for losses incurred in the remnants of Hurricane Ivan have until Nov. 1, after which disaster unemployment assistance will no longer be available through the state employment security commission.

The deadline for those wishing to be considered for assistance through the state agriculture cost share program need to file by Nov. 5 by stopping by the local Soil and Water Conservation District Office located in the basement of the county office building, or by calling the office at 372-4645.

The Alleghany Soil and Water Conservation District, as requested by the state’s agriculture cost share program, is surveying the needs of agricultural operations that had significant damage due to recent storms. State funds may become available for repairs of existing agriculture cost share program contracts or installing new contracts to correct water quality issues caused by Hurricanes Frances and Ivan. Some practices that may qualify include livestock exclusion like fencing; heavy-use areas; stock trails; stock-watering systems and cropland erosion.

“Anyone who has damage to their cost share projects on their farms are asked to contact our office,” Janie Woodle, Alleghany Soil and Water Conservation District administrative assistant stated Tuesday. Workers or business owners in Alleghany, Ashe, Wilkes, Alamance, Caswell, Davidson, Forsyth, Graham, Guilford, Randolph, Rockingham, Stokes and Swain counties who meet certain criteria for unemployment assistance should apply before the Nov. 1. These criteria are individuals who are unemployed due to Hurricane Ivan and do not qualify for regular unemployment insurance benefits; self-employed individuals, including fishermen and farmers, and small-business owners whose income was disrupted by the storm; individuals who have become the breadwinner or major supplier of the household as a direct result of the disaster; individuals injured as a direct result of the disaster and thus, unable to work; individuals unable to reach their place of employment as a direct result of the disaster; and individuals who have been prevented from beginning a new job, due to the disaster. Self-employed individuals filing claims are to provide a copy of their 2003 tax returns.

Since the area was hit by Hurricanes Frances and Ivan in September, millions of dollars have been distributed among those in the state in search of assistance.

According to the Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency and the North Carolina Department of Crime Control and Public Safety’s Division of Emergency Management, residents had received $14,302,867 in assistance following Hurricane Frances, according to document dated Oct. 25. As of Oct. 19, $8,567,652 had been disbursed to aid victims of Hurricane Ivan.

In order to receive disaster unemployment assistance, a person must live or work in a declared disaster area and be employed, or have lost income as a direct result of the disaster. Residents of the counties may file for assistance by calling 1-866-795-8877 or by visiting their local employment security office.

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